We love this... so it's staying as our tipping mascot for the rest of 2015

Fair dinkum Queensland... did you have to be so good at Rugby League?NSW got chewed up and spat out of Suncorp Stadium... and hey, we had the last 12 months to smile right?Well done QLD - you were superb.Oh and hey... we did a new NOT The Footy Show Podcast on Sunday - yes, pre-Origin but still not unentertaining.

I actually like the look - entertainment wise - of nearly every game this weekend (6 games only as the byes finally finish for 2015) so it's not the worst weekend to be stuck at home in front of the box. But I want to see Brisbane flex their premiership muscle this Saturday and if they rest a few players - it'll be certainly tested by a pretty handy Dogs side of late.

ROUND 18 TIPSRaiders over Knights - EXACTLY the kind of game Canberra has lost the past half dozen or so years... need to win it to stay firmly in the Top 8 mix and get to play a team below them on the ladder... you'd think I'd take heed of history and pick Newcastle based on the above but I can't do that given what the 2 points mean to the Raiders... especially at home where they only have a single win this year. They HAVE to win this or they could fold in the 2nd Half of the season. This game is huge.Roosters over Penrith - I should be giving Penrith more respect after two good wins and the Chooks not really showing me they are 'on' at the moment... but their team is pretty healthy if Pearce, Cordner and Guerra backup as expected - they are a better team than the Panthers, so I'm picking them.Broncos over Bulldogs - Want to see who backs up for Brisbane before I confirm my tip - but gotta back the Broncos and their current defensive wall right now... that said, Dogs are going okay of late and don't suck at home. Leaning Broncos based on ladder position atm.Storm over Warriors - Hurrell and probably Hoffman are big outs and the Storm have a game that I reckon suits the slippery twilight/evening conditions of Mt Smart - this game might be a 4pm start but that's practically mid-night like conditions in NZ. If Cronk and Smith play I like Melbourne in a low scorer.Sharks over Dragons - Not getting burnt 3 weeks in a row Dragons... and even if you win I'll still feel better about myself than after picking you for the past fortnight.Manly over Titans - If Manly lose this their ordinary season is officially woeful. Surely they don't let this one slip - even in DCE's 'return' to the Gold Coast.

As for my #Origin 3 tip... I repeat from last week: "Farah plays I think NSW can do it... Ennis plays and say hello QLD!"Last week 3/4: Only missed on Dragons... I now loathe the Dragons! (I copy/pasted this from last week... seriously Saints!!!)